Link Between Dietary Fiber and Depression Partially Explained by Gut-Brain Interactions

Fiber is a commonly recommended part of a healthy diet. That’s because it’s good for your health in so many ways–from weight management to reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and some types of cancer. A new study also finds that it might be linked with a reduced risk of depression, especially in premenopausal women. Study results are published online in Menopause, the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS).

Depression is a common and serious mental health condition that not only affects a person’s ability to perform daily activities but can also lead to suicide. It’s estimated that more than 264 million people worldwide have depression, with numbers increasing over time. This debilitating condition is much more common in women, and there are a number of theories as to why this is the case. Changes in hormone levels in perimenopausal women have been linked to depression.

Read more from The North American Menopause Society about Link Between Dietary Fiber and Depression Partially Explained by Gut-Brain Interactions

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